Service table



My 31, T928.

J. M. ATHANS SERVICE TABLE Filed June 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORQ zjznwflfarz) A TORNEY-. v

J. M. ATHANS SERVICE TABLE July 31, 1928.

Filed June 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. v r /n 772.45%),

I A TORNEY JuTy 31, I928.

J. M. ATHANS SERVICE TABLE Filed June 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Shet '5 INVENTOR. J02): 7 fliam;

A TORNEY 4 is collapsed for transportation.

Patented Jul 31-, 1928. Y

' UNITED STATES JOHN M. ATHANS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

sEBvIcE TABLE.

Application filed June a, 1927. Serial miemei.

This invention relates to service tables. In hotels, hotel apartments and other like buildings guests frequently wish a meal served in their room or apartment. This necessitates, in most cases, the carrying of a table, its equipment and the food to the room and consequently requires the services of two .or moreemployees or, if a single waiter attem ts the service he has to dress the table to carried to the room in the pantry or serving room and then balance the table carefully onone hand while carrying it and its load of dishes and food to the guests room. This makes either an extra expense when two ormore employees are used or an awkward and inconvenient method when performed by a single waiter. One principal object oi'the present mvention is to provide a novel andlimpr'oved service table y the use of which a single waiter can readily and conveniently transport from the serving room the table with its full equipment of lmen, silverware, dishes and other articles to the guests room.

are held between the table top and base during the transportation and when the table A'fourth important object of the of construction and combinations of A second important object of the inveng tion is to provide 'a service table so consupporting bars.

' Figure 13 is a section on the line'13-13 invention is toprovide an improved table of the parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed. p

In the accompanying drawings like characters'of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the table 1n 1ts collapsed form and showing the middle closet collapsed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the table expanded to substantially its full hei ht.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the ta la in condition .for transportation.

Figure 4 is a transverse section throu h the collapsible closet showing the same 111 collapsed positio Figure-5 is a view of the Figure 4 fully expanded.

igure 6 is a view of one form of lock suitable for the closet.

Figure 7 is a transverse view of the closetfor keeping coffee and the like hot.

F gure 8 is; a transverse section of the closet for use in keeping articles cold.

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the Figure 12 is a to view of one of thecross members of the ta le top showing the leaf of Figure12 but also showing the'table top parts shown in in folded p'ositionin 'full lines and with the leaves opened in dotted lines.

Figure 14 is a plan view of a charcoal holder for heating the compartments.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view thereof.

In the present embodiment of the invention there is provided a longitudinal base member 10 at-each end of which is a transverse base member 11 and secured to-these .100

base members at the junctions of the longitudinal and transverse members is a pipe leg section 12 on which fits tion 13 which thus telescopes with respect .to the section 12. The sections '13 each have their lower ends lit .as at 14 and-on these sections is screwe a clamp nut 15 of a pipe leg sec- .the usual taper threaded type so that as the nuts 15 are screwed up the split portions ofthe sections 13 are collapsed-and caused to grip tightly on the sections12. By "this means the telescopic legs may be either held in expanded or collapsed condition.

On the top of each section 13 is a cross member 16 to which is screwed the main table top member 17, these cross members serving as cross braces on this member. Each cross member has itsupper face provided with a channel Band in these .chan nels are fitted pairs of leaf supporting bars 19 each of which has one end slotted as at 20, a pin 21 being fixed in the member 16 to enter the slot. By means of these slots the extent of protraction and retraction of the bars 19 is limited to the proper amount. Each of the bars 19 likewise has on its underside adjacent the end which is protracted in use a finger notch 22 by means of which the bar may be drawn out, the cross member being cut away as at 23 to enable this finger notch tobe reached. Also each member 19 is provided in its opposite end with a hole 24 for the reception of one end of a carrying cord 25, best seen in Figure 3. At each end of the main portion 17 there is provided a pair of hinges 26 which carry the leaves 27, the hinges being of such type .and so arranged that these leaves may either fold over on top ofthe'main member 17 as shown in full lines in Figures 11 and .13 or may be folded outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 13 to rest on the extended bars 19 as indicated in that figure. Now, it will be seen that when the bars 19 are retracted, as in Figure 12, the cords 25 will be left loose but when these bars are drawn out the cords 25 will be pulled into the space normally occupied b the inner ends of the bars so that the slac of these cords will be taken. up and they will not hang down, the length of the cord being adjusted to this end. Each of the members 16 is provided with flanges 28 spaced from the underside of the member 17 and also at each end of the member 17 on its underside is secured a corresponding flange member 29 so that the flanges 30 at the upper ends of, certain closets presently to be described mayslide in and out on the flange members 29 and flanges 28 thus making these closets removable and replaceable. The member 17 projects beyond the supporting legs at each end and beneath. one end is provided a closet 31 having 'a door 32 equipped with a suit- ,able latch "33. This has in its interior a removable shelf 34 which normally rests on .a bracket 35. The shelf 34 is spaced sufficiently above the bottom so that a charcoal tray for burning charcoal may be inserted .beneath it. The charcoal trays used each consists of a body 36 having U-shaped legs .37 riveted to its ends and provided with a floor or bottom perforated as at 38 to enand saucers and the like.

sure draft. Also the door 32 is provided with perforations '39 for substantially the the bottom section is provided with a bottom 47. Each of these sections except the bottom is provided at its lower edge with an inwardly extending flange 48 and each section'except the top is provided with an outwardly extending flange 49, best seen in Figure '10. Thus when these sections are expanded as in Figure 5 the flanges 48 and 49 limit expanding movement. Also 'on top of all but the upper section rests-a grill 50 and, each section is provided on its front with a hinge door 51 normally closed by a -suitable latch mechanism indicated at 52.

At each end, in the present instance, there is provided a lock for each section which consists of a bar 53 secured beneath the flange 48 and on this bar is. pivoteda cam latch.

member 54 having a cam portion 55 adapted to enter either a slot 56 in the upper part of the section next below to hold the closet expanded or to enter a slot 57 in the lower part of said section to hold the closet collapsed. 1 g

lit is to be understood that while this particular form of latch is shown I do not confine myself to the use of this latch but it IS to be taken merely as typical of any preferred form. Also, it is to be understood that the manner of holding the legs in expanded or collapsed condition can be varied from that shown and Ido not confine myself to V cles which it may be desirable to keep cool such as salads, ices and the like. In the cen- 'tral closet in the bottom section is placed two or more of the charcoal trays filled with the lighted charcoal and above these on the ids or ills is placed the food to be kept ot toget er with the service plates, on s At this time t e carrying cords 25 are slack and loose and the table'cloth'and other linen may be placed on the table top and folded over with the leaves. "The cords are then brought up in the posi-.

tion shown in Figure 3 and the waitergrasps the same with his hand and carries the service table andits contents to the guests room. On reachin the room he loosens the nuts and pulls the top up after which he tightens thesenuts thus holding the top in raised -position. He then opens the table leaves,

first pulling out the bars 19 andspreads the table, removing the food from the closets. After everything is taken out 'of the central closet he collapses the same to the position shown in Figure 1 and locks the sections in collapsed position so that this closet does not interfere with the knees of the persons sitting opposite each other at the table. If

a and 40 ma four persons are to be served the closets 31 table thus saving the ends also free.

Suitable asbestos pads 58 are disposed wherever needed to prevent heat from the hot closets either injuring the wood of the "table top or makingthe heat from the closets unpleasant for the guests at the table as well as to prevent waste of heat.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

. It is obvious that minor changes may be .made in the form and cohstruction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, vtherefore, desired toconfi'ne the-invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such asproperly come within the scope claimed. a

Havin thus described the invention, what is claime as new, is:

1. In aservice table, a base a top'havin'ga central portion and leaves attached thereto to foldoutwardly in the plane of the central portion and to fold inwardly above the central portion, leaf supporting bars slidable beneath the central portion to project on opposite sides-thereof and to be retracted beneaththe central portion, and flexible-carrier elements havin their ends connected to the inner ends of t e bars whereby the carriers are houses upon protrusion of the bars and protruded upon housing of thebars.

be slid out from beneath the,

2. In a service table, a base, a top, means to support the top for movement toward and from the base, and a series of telescopic article carriers havin sliding connection with the underside of said top.

, 3. In a service table, a base, a top, means,

to support the top for movement toward and from the base, and a series of telescopic article carriers having sliding connection with the underside of said top, one of said carriers being vertical] colla sible.

4. In a service ta le, a ase, a top, telescopic pipe legs connecting the base and top adjacent the ends thereo and a vertically telescoping article carrier carried by the top and depending between said pipe legs.

5. In a servicetable, a top, spaced uide I flanges extending transversely of sai top and arranged to form opposed guide channels, and a telescopic article carrier consisting of verticallv colla sible sections and.

engaging in said channels to permit removal and replacement of the article carrier, and means to lock the several sections of the article carrier in expanded. and collapsed positions. v

7. In a,serviee table, a top, spaced guide flanges extending transversely of said top and arranged to formopposed guide channels, an article carrier consisting of vertically collapsible sections and having its upper member provided with flanges slidably enga ing in said channels to ermit removal an replacement of the artic e carrier, and means to lock each/pair of adjacent sections of the article carrier in relative expanded and collapsed positions independently of the remaining sections.v

..In testimony whereof I afiix' my signature.

JOHN M. ATHANS. 

